Adjustable on-off timer with improved manual control means

ABSTRACT

An one-off timer having a time drive dial and on and off members adjustably carried thereon, a switch controlling output power from the timer, a switch operator, trip members between the dial members and switch effective to actuate the switch responsive to movement of the dial members, and a manual selector control element for shifting and/or holding the switch in the power off or on conditions and/or allowing automatic on-off cycling of the timer. An on-off timer in essence provides for adjustably programmed on and off power outputs over some definite period, such as over a 24-hour period. Such automatically controlled power outputs during each of these time periods can be used for the operation of lights, appliances, etc., and the consumer has rapidly accepted such a timer. When it is desired to discontinue the automatic repeating cycle, there typically is provided a manual control to shift to the constant power &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or power &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; condition.

United States Patent 1191 Ingram 1 Apr. 17, 1973 ADJUSTABLE ON-OFF TIMERWITH Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott IMPROVED MANUAL CONTROLAtt0rney-Charles F. Lind MEANS 57 ABS'IRA [75] Inventor: Leslie G.Ingram, Southern Pines, 1 CT N C. An one-off timer having a time drivedial and on and off members adjustably carried thereon, a switch con-[73] Asslgnee: Mccraw'Ed'son Company Elgm trolling output power from thetimer, a switch operator, trip members between the dial members and [22]Fil d; J 7, 1972 switch effective to actuate the switch responsive tomovement of the dial members, and a manual selector [21] Appl' 2l6l76control element for shifting and/or holding the switch in the power ofior on conditions and/or allowing au- 521 US. Cl. ..200/3s FB tomaticOil-Off cycling of the timer- [5 l IIIIL Cl. ..I'I0lh 43/10, HOlh 7/08An ff timer i essence provides f adjustably [58] Field of Search..200/38 grammed on and off power outputs over some d fi i period, suchas over a 24-hour period. Such automati- [56] References Clted callycontrolled power outputs during each of these UNITED STATES PATENTS timeperiods can be used for the operation of lights,

appliances, etc., and the consumer has rapidly ac- 3,588,391 6/1971Banathy et al ..200/38 A X cepted such a timer. When it is desired todiscontinue 3,254,166 5/1966 Rulseh et al. ..200/38 FB the automaticrepeating cycle, there typically is pro- 3260307 7/1966 Rulseh at M20058FB vided a manual control to shift to the constant power 3,584,1666/1971 Halicho ..200/38 FB or power ff condition 3,588,394 6/l97l Koch..200/38 FB X 3 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures r F 6 f a 2 a4 4/11/1/ /I/I//2 l I .2 2 I 3 k 1 6 2 I I, f 9

PAIENTEB RH 3,728,500

SHEET 1 OF 2 III 38 q 36 W 42 39 l ADJUSTABLE ON-OFF TIMER WITH IMPROVEDMANUAL CONTROL MEANS This invention relates to, and an object of thisinvention is to provide in such a timer, a more reliable control formanually shifting the switch from the automatic time responsivecondition to the permanently off or to the permanently on conditionindependently of the time set sequence of the timer.

A particular feature of the invention is a manually shifted controlelement which cooperates in its various operative positions with thetimer components to give the desired control, including a first facethat disengages the trip members from the on off dial members to stopautomatic timer operation, and other faces which cooperate with theswitch and/or switch operator to shift the switch and hold itpermanently ofi' or on.

The advantages and operation of this invention will be more fullyunderstood after referring to the follow ing specification, theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plane view of the timer to be disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the timer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, as generally seen with the case partly brokenaway and/or in section, specifically showing the timer set in theautomatic position and with the switch off and just prior to beingshifted on;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view, again partly broken away and showing the timerof FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively,except showing the timer where the switch has just been automaticallyshifted on;

FIG. 5a is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 5, except with themanual control shown in a position just prior to being shifted from theautomatic" position to off" position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views, again corresponding generally to FIGS. 3 and 4,except showing the manual control set in the off position;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views, again corresponding generally to FIGS. 3 and4, except showing the manual control set in the on position;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the manual control elementused on the timer; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged broken away perspective view of the manualcontrol element and switch operator and trip member operativelyassembled relative thereto and shown in the off position.

The timer 10 shown is designed for controlling a single circuit, and hasa case 12 comprised of a rear portion 13 and a front portion 14. Therear case portion 13 supports (as shown in FIG. 3) for example a pair ofmale connector prongs 16 which can be readily plugged into a powerreceptacle of conventional construction, and this provides for theelectrical input to the timer as well as the mechanical support of thetimer; while the front case portion 14 has the female power connector 18to receive the plug of the controlled electrical appliance. As shown inFIG. 3, the one side of the conductor 18 is electrically continuous toits corresponding prong element 16 while the other side is connected byconductors 22 through a switch 24 to the opposite prong element 16. Thisthereby provides for a make-break connection from the prongs 16 to thereceptacle 18.

This timer provides various means for operating the switch 24 to controlthe condition of the receptacle 18: including a permanently oncondition; a permanently off condition; and an automatic time controlledcycle condition. A control element 28 (FIGS. 11 and 12) carried withinthe case 12 and having an exposed tab 30 protruding through a slot 32 inthe case provides for the manual actuation of the timer between thevarious operative conditions, which can be noted in FIG. 2 are marked onthe timer as on, off, and automatic.

In the timer illustrated, a dial 34 is rotated about an axis alignedparallel to the contact prongs 16 on a timed basis by a synchronousmotor through a gear train (neither being shown but of conventionalconstruction). On and off members 36 and 38 are adjustably secured tothe dial periphery by conventional means and have respective rearwardlydepending tabs 37 and 39 located at different radial distances from thedial axis of rotation. A switch operator 40 supported by reduced endsections 42 (FIG. 4) being received in openings in the forward caseportion 14 is mounted for rotation about an axis disposed radially ofthe dial axis of rotation. A strip member element 44 supported on anelongated stem portion 46 of the switch operator is free to move axiallyalong the operator but is keyed against rotation because of thecooperating fit between the non-circular stem and trip element as can beseen in FIG. 12.

Formed on the trip member element 44 are opposed pairs of on and offradial fingers 47 and 49 which are separated from one another radiallyof the dial axis a distance equal to the separation of the dependingtabs 37 and 39 on the on and off members 36 and 38. Consequently, whenthe trip member element 44 is properly positioned relative to the pathsof movement of the respective on and off tabs carried by the dial, ascan be noted from FIGS. 3 and 4 for example, where dial on tab 37 linesup and engages the on finger 47 on the trip member, dial rotation causesperiodic switch operator rotation.

The switch operator 40 further has opposed teeth each having a roundedface 52 disposed adjacent the switch 24 and specifically adjacent theswitch plunger 54 which lines up radially of the switch operator. Asshown in FIG. 3, for example, the switch plunger 54 is extended and freeof interference with the switch operator face whereby the switch is openand power is off at the outlet 18, while in FIG. 5 the switch operatorhas been rotated and the face 52 has depressed the switch plunger toclose the switch and have power at the outlet. A cam face 56 is providedon each operator tooth to depress the switch plunger smoothly upon thecounterclockwise rotation of the switch operator between the positionsshown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

To hold the switch operator in each operative position noted in FIGS. 3and 5, there is provided a detent shown as a square configuration 60formed on the switch operator and opposing flat springs 62 carried attheir ends within the housing which are biased at their centers againstswitch operator flats. The resiliency of the springs also gives arotational snap to the operator in shifting from one switch operatorposition to another as soon as the comers between adjacent flats en-gageand pass the springs upon rotation of the switch operator.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 11 and 12 for disclosure of specificdetails of the manual control element 28 which is mounted to sliderelative to the case in a direction laterally of the switch operator 40.The element 28 is preferably of plastic having a generally box-likeexterior shape with a forward wall 65 providing support for theactuating tab or knob 30 which extends through the slot 32 as noted inthe front case wall.

The element wall 66 has a keyhole shaped slot 68 through which theswitch operator 40 extends. The enlarged slot opening is disposedconcentrically of the switch operator when the manual control is in theautomatic position (FIGS. 3 and 4), and the edges 72 of the opening aretapered while the adjacent trip member element 44 is likewise tapered toposition the trip element radially of the dial axis so that the dial onand off tabs 37 and 39 line up with the on and off trip arms 47 and 49respectively. This is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 6.

The narrowing slot 68, a cam surface 74 and face 76 on the wall 66provide support for the trip member element 44 to lift it radially ofthe dial along the switch operator 40 as the manual control element isshifted from the automatic" operative position to the off operativeposition. The off position is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 where the dial tabs37 and 39 clear the on and off trip arms 47 and 49 even upon dialrotation so that the automatic on-off control of the timer is no longeroperative and the switch control is entirely manual. The face 76continues along the wall 66 so that the trip element arms 47 and 49 areheld out of contact with the passing dial tabs when the manual controlelement is also in the on position (FIGS. 9 and 10).

The manual control element wall 80 is generally parallel to the forwardwall 65 but is laterally offset from the axis of the switch operator 40.The wall edge or face 82 is adapted to abut the corner 84 of the switchoperator if the switch operator is in the switch on position (as shownin FIG. a) during the movement of the manual control element from theautomatic" position to the of position so that the switch operator ismanually rotated then to the switch off position when the manual controlelement is in the off position (FIGS. 7 and 8).

In addition, the wall 80 lines up with the side of the switch operatortooth so that continued shifting of the manual control element 28 fromthe of position to the on position rotates the switch operator to begenerally parallel alignment to themovement of the manual controlelement 28. More importantly, the wall 80 has a cam face 86 whichengages the switch plunger 54 and shifts the plunger to the switch oncondition when the manual control element 28 is shifted to the onposition (FIGS. 9 and A compression spring 88 is disposed between thetrip member element 44 and the switch operator to bias the trip elementagainst the manual control element wall 66. This eliminates thepossibility of damage to any components since the only biasing force isthe small force of the compression spring, even if the dial on element37 were in the precise position over the dial off arm 49 and lateralinterference occured when the manual control element were shifted fromthe off position to the automatic" position. Upon such a occurrencehappening, continued dial movement would free the interference and thetimer would operate on the automatic cycle the next revolution of thedial.

In order to have a slight positive stop of the manual control elementin'the automatic, off," and on positions there is provided a detentwhich acts on the manual control element. This can be seen in FIGS. 7and 8 for example where a cantilevered projection 90 formed integrallyas at 91 with the rear case 13 cooperates in these positions withrecesses such as 95 on the wall 80 of the control element.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timer, the combination of a time driven dial mounted forrotation about a first axis, on and off members carried on said dial androtated therewith, a switch operator mounted for rotation about a secondaxis disposed transverse to the first axis and the switch operator lyingadjacent said dial, a switch having an actuator engaged and displaced bythe switch operator to shift the switch between on and off conditions atleast once each full rotation of said operator, on and off trip elementscarried on and keyed against rotation relative to the switch operatorand said trip elements being axially movable on the switch operator, amanual control element supported to move in a direction transverse tothe axis of the switch operator and to the displacement of the switchactuator between automatic, off, and on" control positions, said controlelement having first faces extended generally in the direction ofmovement of the control element but spaced apart in the direction of theswitch operator axis and having cam faces connecting certain of thesefaces all adapted to engage the trip elements for moving them to andmaintaining them in certain axial positions on the switch operator asthe control element is moved to and remains in the different controlposition, where specifically in the automatic position, the on and offtrip elements are axially positioned to be engaged by the dial on andoff members respectively upon dial rotation effective for automaticallyperiodically shifting the switch operator and also where specifically inthe off position and in the on position the on and off trip elements arein an axially shifted position whereat the dial on and off members passwithout interference, the control element further having a second facedisposed laterally offset from the switch operator axis and adapted uponmovement of the control element from the automatic position to the offposition to shift the switch operator from the switch on condition tothe switch off condition, the control element having a third faceextended generally in the direction of and also at an camming anglerelative to the movement of the control element and to the switchactuator displacement and being adjacent the switch actuator effectiveduring movement of the control element from the of position to the onposition to engage the switch actuator and shift the switch to and holdthe same in the on condition.

2. A timer combination according to claim 1, wherein a spring isdisposed between the switch operator and the on and off trip elementsoperable to bias them continuously against the first faces of thecontrol element.

3. In a timer, the combination of a case having a dial wall, a timedriven dial mounted from the dial wall for rotation about a first axisnormal to the dial wall, on

and off members carried on said dial and rotated therewith, a switchoperator mounted from the case for rotation about a second axis disposedparallel to the dial wall and radially normal from the first axis andthe switch operator having a stem lying adjacent said dial and camsections lying radially beyond said dial, a switch having an actuatormovable radially of the switch operator axis and displaced by the switchoperator cam sections to shift the switch between on and off conditionsupon rotation of said operator, on and off trip elements carried on andkeyed against rotation relative to the switch operator stern and saidtrip elements being axially movable on the switch operator, a manualcontrol element supported by the case to move along the dial wall in adirection transverse to the axis of the switch operator and to themovement of the switch actuator between automatic, off, on" controlpositions, said control element having first faces extended generally inthe direction of movement of the control element but spaced apart in thedirection of the switch operator axis and having cam faces connectingcertain of these faces all adapted to engage the trip elements and aspring disposed between the switch operator and the on and off tripelements operable to bias them continuously against the first faces formoving them to and maintaining them in certain axial positions on theswitch operator stern as the control element is moved to and remains inthe different control positions, where specifically in the automatic"position, the on and off trip elements are axially positioned to beengaged by the dial on and off members respectively upon dial rotationeffective for automatically periodically shifting the switch operatorand also where specifically in the off position and in the on positionthe on and off trip elements are in an axially shifted position whereatthe dial on and off members pass without interference, the controlelement further having a second face disposed laterally offset from theswitch operator axis and adapted upon movement of the control elementfrom the automatic position to the off position to engage one of theswitch operator cam sections to shift the switch operator from theswitch on condition to the switch off condition, the control elementhaving a third face extended generally in the direction of and also atan camming angle relative to the movement of the control element and theswitch actuator and being adjacent the switch actuator effective duringmovement of the control element from the off position to the on positionto engage the switch actuator and shift the switch to and hold the samein the on condition.

1. In a timer, the combination of a time driven dial mounted forrotation about a first axis, on and off members carried on said dial androtated therewith, a switch operator mounted for rotation about a secondaxis disposed transverse to the first axis and the switch operator lyingadjacent said dial, a switch having an actuator engaged and displaced bythe switch operator to shift the switch between on and off conditions atleast once each full rotation of said operator, on and off trip elementscarried on and keyed against rotation relative to the switch operatorand said trip elements being axially movable on the switch operator, amanual control element supported to move in a direction transverse tothe axis of the switch operator and to the displacement of the switchactuator between ''''automatic'''', ''''off'''', and ''''on'''' controlpositions, said control element having first faces extended generally inthe direction of movement of the control element but spaced apart in thedirection of the switch operator axis and having cam faces connectingcertain of these faces all adapted to engage the trip elements formoving them to and maintaining them in certain axial positions on theswitch operator as the control element is moved to and remains in thedifferent control positions, where specifically in the ''''automatic''''position, the on and off trip elements are axially positioned to beengaged by the dial on and off members respectively upon dial rotationeffective for automatically periodically shifting the switch operatorand also where specifically in the ''''off'''' position and in the''''on'''' position the on and off trip elements are in an axiallyshifted position whereat the dial on and off members pass withoutinterference, the control element further having a second face disposedlaterally offset from the switch operator axis and adapted upon movementof the control element from the ''''automatic'''' position to the''''off'''' position to shift the switch operator from the switch oncondition to the switch off condition, the control element having athird face extended generally in the direction of and also at an cammingangle relative to the movement of the control element and to the switchactuator displacement and being adjacent the switch actuator effectiveduring movement of the control element from the ''''off'''' position tothe ''''on'''' position to engage the switch actuator and shift theswitch to and hold the same in the on condition.
 2. A timer combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein a spring is disposed between the switchoperator and the on and off trip elements operable to bias themcontinuously against the first faces of the control element.
 3. In atimer, the combination of a case having a dial wall, a time driven dialmounted from the dial wall for rotation about a first axis normal to thedial wall, on and off members carried on said dial and rotatedtherewith, a switch operator mounted from the case for rotation about asecond axis disposed parallel to the dial wall and radially normal fromthe first axis and the switch operator having a stem lying adjacent saiddial and cam sections lying radially beyond said dial, a switch havingan actuator movable radially of the switch operator axis and displacedby the switch operator cam sections to shift the switch between on andoff conditions upon rotation of said operator, on and off trip elementscarried on and keyed against rotation relative to the switch operatorstem and said trip elements being axially movable on the switchoperator, a manual control element supported by the case to move alongthe dial wall in a direction transverse to the axis of the switchoperator and to the movement of the switch actuator between''''automatic,'''' ''''off'''', ''''on'''' control positions, saidcontrol element having first faces extended generally in the directionof movement of the control element but spaced apart in the direction ofthe switch operator axix and having cam faces connecting certain ofthese faces all adapted to engage the trip elements and a springdisposed between the switch operator and the on and off trip elementsoperable to bias them continuously against the first faces for movingthem to and maintaining them in certain axial positions on the switchoperator stem as the control element is moved to and remains in thedifferent control positions, where specifically in the ''''automatic''''position, the on and off trip elements are axially positioned to beengaged by the dial on and off members respectively upon dial rotationeffective for automatically periodically shifting the switch operatorand also where specifically in the ''''off'''' position and in the''''on'''' position the on and off trip elements are in an axiallyshifted position whereat the dial on and off members pass withoutinterference, the control element further having a second face disposedlaterally offset from the switch operator axis and adapted upon movementof the control element from the ''''automatic'''' position to the''''off'''' position to engage one of the switch operator cam sectionsto shift the switch operator from the switch on condition to the switchoff condition, the control element having a third face extendedgenerally in the direction of and also at an camming angle relative tothe movement of the control element and the switch actuator and beingadjacent the switch actuator effective during movement of the controlelement from the ''''off'''' position to the ''''on'''' position toengage the switch actuator and shift the switch to and hold the same inthe on condition.